On Nov. 14, a federal jury in Manhattan awarded the family of Mohamed Bah – a 28-year-old mentally ill Guinean immigrant fatally shot by police in September 2012 – a $2.2 million settlement, report Amsterdam News’ Nayaba Arinde and AUTODIDACT 17. In 2013, the Bronx Community College student and taxi driver’s family filed a federal lawsuit against the city.

“This is a victory in at least proving what they did to Mohamed,” Bah’s mother, Hawa Bah told the Amsterdam News. But she added forcefully, “I want to make sure that this does not happen to another mother and for the future direction, let the DoJ and the district attorney see the truth. This concerns everyone in the U.S. because if cops murder someone you cannot know unless it comes to a settlement or goes to trial, so that is very bad for us. They [the police] should protect us—not kill—but there should be accountability when they kill.”

Mohamed Bah

The family also said in a statement that the verdict “does not equal justice, accountability or systemic change.”

“It’s deeply troubling that even though Mateo and Licitra were found liable, they will not face criminal or financial consequences. We are calling for renewed criminal and NYPD investigations into Mohamed’s death in light of this verdict and the overwhelming evidence that these officers broke the law, violated Mohamed’s constitutional rights and broke NYPD protocol.”

The family’s attorney, Randolph McLaughlin, pointed out what sets this case apart from others of its kind:

The attorney further noted, “This is the only major police misconduct case of its kind involving an individual who had not committed a crime to go to trial…Ramarley Graham case—settled, Eric Garner Case—settled. So the families in those cases were spared the pain of a trial, and for some reason, which is unfathomable to me, the city chose to drag Mr. Bah’s memory through the mud. So that to me is unforgivable.”

McLaughlin describes what he believes “persuaded” the 10-person jury. Read what the lawyer said, details on the case, as well as statements from the New York City Law Department, the NYPD and the Justice Committee, a social justice organization, in the full story at Amsterdam News.

Below, watch video from Afrikanspot of Hawa Bah and attorney Randolph McLaughlin speaking to the press after the verdict.

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